Lansing’s Cycle Puts Rockies on Top in West

Mike Lansing’s toughest task was getting a single.

Lansing had a triple, home run and double in the first three innings against Arizona on Sunday at Coors Field. He then singled in the fourth inning to hit for the cycle, and the Rockies went on to set a team record with 23 hits in a 19-2 rout of the Diamondbacks.

“Everyone knew what was going on,” Lansing said. “I hit it in a good spot, but you have to try not to do too much--hit one somewhere in the gap, and you have to go into second.”

Lansing, who went four for five with five RBIs, had a run-scoring triple in the first off starter Armando Reynoso (4-6), a two-run homer in the second, a two-run double in the third off Omar Daal and a single in the fourth off Russ Springer. He then struck out against Dan Plesac in the sixth.

Colorado, which moved into first place for the first time in four years, broke the previous team record of 21 hits, set against Florida on Sept. 7, 1998, and tied its record for runs, set against Atlanta on June 7, 1996.

The Rockies (37-27) moved two percentage points ahead of the Diamondbacks (39-29), not havingbeen in first place since July 26, 1996. Colorado moved 10 games over .500 for the first time since May 8, 1997 (21-11).

Atlanta 5, Philadelphia 3--John Rocker got his first save in a month, striking out three of four batters he faced at Philadelphia.

After a 35-minute rain delay with two out in the eighth, Rocker relieved Mike Remlinger with a runner on first and struck out Desi Relaford on a 2-and-2 pitch.

Rocker then struck out pinch-hitter Ron Gant and Doug Glanville, both on 1-and-2 pitches. Scott Rolen ended the game by lining to left field on a full-count pitch.

Houston 4, San Francisco 2--J.T. Snow’s 11th inning error allowed two runs to score as the Astros ended the Giants’ five-game winning streak.

Moises Alou singled to open the top of the 11th and Glen Barker reached on a sacrifice bunt when Robb Nen (1-3) threw the ball away at first, allowing Alou to move to third.

Nen got Mitch Meluskey to fly out, but Matt Mieske, batting for Jay Powell, hit a sharp grounder against a drawn-in infield that went off Snow’s glove into short right field.

San Diego 8, Cincinnati 7--Not even five solo homers, including two by Dante Bichette, could save the Reds from losing for the 11th time in 12 games.

Matt Clement gave up three of the homers in the fifth inning but stopped his three-game losing streak. Ed Sprague, pinch-hitting for Clement in the fifth, hit a three-run homer as the Padres completed the three-game sweep at San Diego.

Florida 5, Pittsburgh 4--Pinch-hitter Mike Lowell grounded a tiebreaking single up the middle in the ninth inning enabling the Marlins to sweep a road series for the first time in more than a year.

The Marlins, 12-28 in Three Rivers Stadium prior to the three-game series, swept the Pirates in Pittsburgh for the second time since joining the National League in 1993. The road sweep also was their first since they won three in Tampa Bay last June.

Montreal 4, Chicago 3--Michael Barrett hit a score-tying, two-run single in the seventh inning and drew a bases-loaded walk in the 11th at Wrigley Field.

With the score tied, 3-3, Vladimir Guerrero hit a broken-bat single off Daniel Garibay (1-3) in the 11th and advanced on Lee Stevens’ grounder. Garibay threw a wild pitch, then walked Geoff Blum, Chris Widger and Barrett, forcing in the go-ahead run.

New York 7, Milwaukee 3--Rick Reed recovered after giving up a leadoff home run to Ron Belliard for his first victory in over seven weeks.

Reed (4-1) gave up three runs and seven hits in seven innings for his first win since April 29. He had six consecutive no-decisions after losing on May 4.